The month of December is about the preparation for Christmas, and Christmas celebrations in Hungary. All along this month there are several Christmas traditions that can bring you good fortune, presents, candies and toys to the children, or just  bring the families together. Some of these traditions are connected to the Christian religion (as Hungary is mainly a Christian country), but some are simply folk customs.

1. December 6: Mikulás (St. Nicholas Day)

This is our first gift-giving day in the holiday season. The night of December 5th the children have to clean their boots and place them in the window. During the night, the Mikulás comes through the chimneys with his assistant, “Krampusz” and they leave candies and chocolate in a red plastic bag in the boots, and/or virgács (birch stick) as well, if the children behaved bad during the year.

2. December 13: Luca napja (Luca’s Day)

There are several traditions connected to Luca’s day. Firstly, on this day women were not allowed to work, because if they do, the chickens will not have any eggs – as the tradition says. Secondly, on this day the men started to go to other houses and wished all goods in the favor of the respective people, – for the return of any kind of donation. In case they did not receive anything, they scattered the house. Thirdly, the ladies started to germinate wheat on this day. By the 24th they could see if the wheat sprouted, – that meant they could expect rich harvests the next year.

3. Advent

Starting the forth Sunday before Christmas. On this Christmas tradition in its infancy, we prepare a wreath with four candles on it, and light a candle every Sunday before Christmas. This tradition ends on Christmas Eve.

4. Christmas tree decoration

Even though we decorate everything lately before Christmas, decorating the Christmas tree on December 24th stayed as a Christmas tradition in most families. We decorate with ornaments and “szaloncukor“. Szaloncukor is a fondant based candy covered in chocolate, wrapped in shiny paper and hanged on the Christmas trees. Hitherto the filling varies from nougat, or marzipan, to jelly. If you think that only the candy’s taste matters to the people, you are so wrong. In the 19th century, the customer could decide on taste, as well as the color of the wrapping as well. As the szaloncukor is a  unique Hungarian traditional Christmas candy, we can consider it a “Hungaricum” also.

5. December 24: Christmas Eve

The night before Christmas is usually only for the family. This is the night when the “Jézuska” (little Jesus) brings the presents to the children. Gifts are given after the traditional dinner, when the family gathers around the tree singing Christmas carols. Apple symbolizes the family union, and it is cut in so many pieces as many family members are present for the celebration.

6. December 25: Betlehemezés

To keep the malefic ghosts away, the children enacted the birth of Jesus from the Bible. In the performance, they used live animals and brought gifts to the church, and later to the houses. In return they were offered a nice dinner.

7. December 27: Wine Hallow

Every family brought wine to the church on this day. The priest hallowed the wine, and this wine was thought to have magical power. Sick people and animals were cured with the wine and they poured some from this wine into the barrels, to keep the wine from going bad.

Check out here what is the traditional Christmas dinner like in Hungary!